I AM A SONIC BOOMER, NOT A SENIOR... In this blog, I am writing to and for those who believe that the Boomers will change what the word Senior means. I also believe that Boomers will change what retirement means in our society. The blog is also for those who are interested in what life after retirement may look like for them. In this blog I highlight and write about issues that I believe to be important both for Seniors and working Boomers.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Leaders must put people before politics

An email I received from David Suzuki in August

When we elect people to office, we give them power to make and enact
decisions on our behalf. They should have a vision that extends beyond the next
election and the latest Dow Jones average — to our children and
grandchildren.

We expect our leaders to have a clear picture of our world and the conditions
necessary for human life and well-being. If they don't, how can they make
informed decisions? So let me outline some simple, scientifically validated
truths about us and the world we live in — truths that should guide our
political decisions.We are, above all else, biological beings, with an absolute need for clean
air from the moment of birth to the last death rattle. We take air deep into our
lungs and filter whatever's in it. Plants on land and in the ocean take in the
greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis, creating
the atmosphere we depend on.We are about 60 per cent water by weight, so we need clean water to be
healthy. When water falls to Earth, it's filtered through tree and other plant
roots, soil fungi and bacteria, cleansing it so it's safe to drink.All the energy in our bodies that we use to move, grow and reproduce is
sunlight captured by plants in photosynthesis and converted to chemical energy,
which we ingest. We eat plants and animals for our nourishment, so whatever
they're exposed to ends up in our bodies. We need clean soil to give us clean
food.These are basic, biological facts and should be the prism through which any
decision is made at individual, corporate or government levels. Protection of
air, water, soil and the web of life should be the highest social, political and
economic priority.We're also social animals. Scientists have shown that love during childhood
is essential for healthy development. Children who are deprived of love at
critical points can develop a variety of physical and psychological deficits. To
avoid those, we have to work for strong families and supportive communities,
full employment, justice, greater income and gender equity and freedom from
terror, genocide and war.Finally, we are spiritual creatures who require sacred places, a sense of
belonging to the world and a recognition that we are not in charge of nature,
but dependent on the biosphere for our health and well-being. We are not outside
of nature; we are part of it.To be fully healthy and human, our most elemental needs are biological,
social and spiritual. Politicians ought to know this. Their role is to protect
and enhance those necessities of life; otherwise there is no vision, direction
or leadership.That's why it's absurd for a politician or government representative to speak
about any aspect of the economy without acknowledging the threat of
human-induced climate change. Many oppose doing anything on ideological grounds,
but the science is overwhelming and compelling, and the need for action is
clear. What can you say about "leaders" who choose to ignore the best available
evidence to the detriment of the people they are elected to represent?Surely those who act only for short-term economic gain, imposing destructive
consequences on generations to come, must be held responsible. We must also
consider the consequences of rapid and excessive exploitation of fossil fuels on
the world's poorest people, who have done little to create climate change but
are most affected by it.Even though Canada ratified the legally binding Kyoto Protocol, which spelled
out our obligations to reduce the risk of climate change, many of our "leaders"
have wilfully ignored scientific evidence and urgent calls to meet the
protocol's targets, and Canada eventually abandoned the agreement. What should
we call that?And what can we say about "leaders" who can see something is wrong and have
the means to respond but choose not to? This is what Canada is doing — in the
face of overwhelming evidence and pleading of other industrialized nations.Our elected representatives deserve respect for their commitment. But the
elevated status and power of politicians also carries responsibilities. Many are
abrogating those responsibilities for ideological reasons that have nothing to
do with our well-being.

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This is a valentine thought for my retired and soon to be retired friends. When you watch television or the movies, you could come to th...

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About Me

I was raised on Vancouver Island and in 1965, left to become a charter student of Simon Fraser University I graduated with a degree in Economics and Commerce in 1969; got on with life and then 25 years later graduated with my Masters in Educational Technology from City University in Seattle.

I started teaching in Surrey in 1973, but in 2000, I also started teaching at the University of Phoenix, Vancouver Campus. I became Area Chair for Curriculum and Instruction in 2005 but within four years, Phoenix closed its Vancouver Campus. I fully retired in 2012.

I served on the Board of SHARE Family & Community Services. The Society is a non- profit, independent, community based organization providing leadership and programs in response to the social needs of the residents of the Tri-Cities. I currently write a blog about issues important to Boomers as well as a blog about Personalized Gift Giving